Dodds tips Gidley to shine for Wolves

Kurt Gidley's vast experience will provide a huge boost to Warrington Wolves in 2016, according to fellow new recruit Mitchell Dodds.

Mitchell Dodds expects fellow Warrington Wolves new boy Kurt Gidley to have a major impact for the Super League side in 2016.

Gidley ended a lengthy association with the Newcastle Knights in order to take on a new challenge at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

The 33-year-old former Australia international brings vast experience and has impressed throughout pre-season for a Wolves side eager to improve on a disappointing sixth-place finish last term.

Dodds, another Warrington player preparing for a first taste of Super League following his switch from the Brisbane Broncos, told Omnisport: "He [Gidley] has played massive games, played [State of] Origin, played for Australia and he's going to bring that much to the club.

"Everything he does in training, you can see the direction, the talk, what he has to say to other guys. He has a wealth of information and we should be trying to suck that up like a sponge, because there aren't many times you get to play with someone like that."

Dodds is also excited by the prospect of linking up with ex-Broncos team-mate Ashton Sims, who wasted little time in becoming a popular figure with the Wolves after joining the club from North Queensland Cowboys for 2015.

"It's always been on my list to come over to Super League and knowing that Ash was here [was a factor]," Dodds added. "I had Ash back in Brisbane and played a fair bit with him there.

"I got along with him at Brissy, so nothing's changed I hope. They love him here, don't they? They love the hair!

"I [also] spoke to [former Warrington players] Kevin Walters and Allan Langer - they had nothing but good things to say about the club, which kind of removed any doubt in my mind. I'm really happy with the decision."

Warrington kick off the new season on Thursday with a mouth-watering clash against last season's treble-winners, Leeds Rhinos, at Headingley.